Motor controller



Jan. 30, 1934.y E NlELsEN 1,945,066

MOTOR CONTROLLER Filed Sept. 29., 1932 Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNIT-EDSTATES MOTOR CONTROLLER Emanuel Nielsen, Racine, Wis., assignor toHamilton Beach Manufacturing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application September 29, 1932 Serial No. 635,357

2 claims.

This invention relates to motor controllers and more particularly to afoot operated controller adapted for governing the speed of a motor such.as a sewing machine motor, although obviously the invention may be usedto control motors for operating other machinery.

As shown, the invention is embodied in a motor controller of the typedisclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,772,361 issued August 5,1930. In foot operating the motor controller shown in said patentit hasbeen found that the controller has a tendency to move relatively to thefloor, away from the foot of the operator, especially at the times whenthe foot of the operator is being raised or lowered to vary the motorspeed.

One of the 'objects of the present invention is to obviate the tendencyof the controller to move relatively to its support and to' provide 20means whereby the controller may be foot operated conveniently andeiciently and retained in its intended position without being fastenedto a supporting surface.

' In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a motor controllerembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the controller as viewed from the left hand endof Fig. l.

The controller cage or housing, indicated as a whole at in the drawing,is intended to enclose controller mechanism of the character Vshown anddescribed in said United States Letters Patent No. 1,772,361 or anyother suitable controller mechanism which is compact in form and adaptedto be actuated by a treadle plate located externally of the housing 10.

The housing 10 is preferably made of sheet metal and consists of a flatbottom 12, longitudinally extending, upright side walls 13, 13.preferably integral with the bottom 12, end members' 14 and 15 and a top16. The parts 14,

and 16 are preferably made of onepiece of metal screen. The opening 11is cut in one of the side walls 13 adjacent the end wall 14.

A treadle plate 17 .is-fpivotally mounted at 18 on the controllerhousing 10. The treadle plate comprises a top surface 19 and downturnedside nanges 20 and 21, which at their pivoted ends embrace the sides 13,13. The side flange 21 terminates in a depending arm 22.- The pivot pin18 extends through the ,downturned side members 20 and 21 of the treadle1'7 and through the side walls 13 of the controller housing 10. Thedepending arm 22 is provided with inwardly y rubber feet (not shown).

directed projections 23 for contacting with the extension 24 of abracket on which a movable controller arm is mounted, as is fullydisclosed in the aforementioned United States Letters Patent No.1,772,361.

At its raised end the treadle plate 17 is provided with a pair ofextensions or ears 25 which are preferably continuations of thedepending sides 20, 21 of the treadle 17 and are disposed in verticalplanes. A roller 26 having trunnions 65 27 at its ends is rotatablymounted in the ears 25. rIvhe surface of the roller 26 is knurled to'provide a gripping surface to be engaged by the operators foot. Theroller is preferably as long as the width of the treadle plate.

Preferably the side walls. 13, 13 of the rheostat housing have ears 28formed on their upper edges, which function as stops for the treadleplate 17 when the latter is depressed. A coiled spring 29 locatedbetween the top 16 of the housing and 75 the treadle plate 17 returnsthe plate 17 to its normal position when pressure on the plate isrelieved.

If desired, the bottom 12 may be provided with 80 The provision of theroller on the treadleplate prevents unintended movement of thecontroller on its support when the operator depresses or releases thetreadle plate 17. The friction of'the sole of the operators shoe againstthe treadle plate is eliminated by the provision of the roller whichrevolves relatively to the plate when pressed down or released.

Changes may be made in details of construction without departing fromthe scope of my invention and I do not intend to be limited to the exactform shown and described, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. A motor controller comprising a portable housing, a treadle plateextending over said housing and having pivotal connection with thehousing adjacent one end thereof, spring means cooperating with saidhousing and the treadle plateV to normally maintain the free end of saidplate elevated above said housing, a roller rotatably mounted in thefree end of said treadle plate, and stop means extending between saidhousing and plate to space said roller from said .105 housing when theplate is depressed, whereby the tendency of the housing to move relativeto its support during operation of the treadle plate is eliminated.

2. A motor controller comprising a portable housing, a treadle memberpivotally connected with the housing adjacent one end thereof, springmeans cooperating with said housing and treadle member to normallymaintain the free end of said member elevated with respect to thehousing, a roller rotatably mounted adjacent the free end of saidtreadle member, said housing being so constructed and arand treadlemember free rotation of said roller ranged as to insure on its mountingthroughout its entire operating range, whereby tendency of the housingto move relative to its support when the treadle member is 4depressed iseliminated.

. NIELSEN.

